CCELOPELTIS 211 



mentioned the second third of the back may be almost 

 entirely black, and the belly dark olive-grey in the 

 middle and yellowish on the sides. Iris brown, 

 with a golden or coppery circle round the pupil. 



Size. — This handsome snake grows to a length of 

 6J feet. Specimens 5 to 6 feet long are not un- 

 common. 



Distribution. — Mediterranean coast of France and 

 Western Liguria, Spain and Portugal, Sicily, Lam- 

 pedusa, eastern coast of the Adriatic, Greece and 

 eastern islands of the Mediterranean, Mediterranean 

 coast of Asia and Sinaitic Peninsula, eastwards to 

 the Caucasus and Persia, North Africa from Egypt 

 to Rio de Oro. It is not known to occur above 

 2,300 feet altitude in Europe. 



Habits. — A lively, swift snake, living on land and 

 on low bushes, often found near human habitations. 

 Some specimens are very vicious, whilst others show 

 a gentle disposition after a short period of captivity. 

 A specimen nearly 6 feet long, which I kept for 

 some time, never attempted to bite when handled, 

 and some have become so tame as to take food from 

 the hand. The sense of sight appears to be better 

 developed than in any other European snake. The 

 food consists chiefly of mammals, even large rats 

 and young rabbits, birds such as chickens, partridges, 

 and quails, lizards, and other snakes, which, if of 

 considerable size, are not swallowed until paralyzed 

 or killed by the effect of the poison. In Eastern 



